A New Type of LED Facial Mask

ABSTRACT

An LED facial mask incorporating a transparent light guide which distributes therapeutically useful frequencies of light over the skin of a user&#39;s face is disclosed. Further disclosed is a USB connection port which provides power and/or a means of charging an onboard power supply as well as a means for controlling the LED facial mask via computer software using the USB connection port. Alternate embodiments incorporating the mask device into alternate forms of wearable devices are also disclosed.

PRIORITY CLAIM

This application claims priority from one or more previously filedforeign or PCT applications, namely:

-   A New Type of LED Facial Mask, WO2015135098 A1 (PCT/CN2014/001189)

This invention relates to an LED facial mask incorporating a transparentlight guide which distributes therapeutically useful frequencies oflight over the skin of a user's face safely and conveniently.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Optics has long been applied in medical care. Phototherapy has been anancient method for treating human diseases. As early as thousands ofyears ago, countries like China and Egypt were already using sunlight totreat diseases.

The invention of the laser in 1960 marked a new age for phototherapy.The high luminance, monochromaticity, and wavelength selectivity oflasers has contributed to their huge success in ophthalmological,dermatological, and surgical applications. For a long time, however, thehigh cost of laser devices has been an obstacle for the development andwidespread use of medical lasers. A device which could administerphototherapy without the need for a laser emitter to provide thephotoradiation would be a useful invention.

Light emitting diode (LED) technology has been on the rise as a lessexpensive means of providing phototherapy. The advantages of LED, suchas high density, multiple wavelengths, long lifespan, and small size,have laid a solid foundation for the application of LED in medical careand for its partial replacement of laser devices. Compared with lasers,LED have lower cost, lower energy consumption, and higher stability,which make them suitable for a wider range of applications in medicalcare. A device which provides phototherapy with LED emitters would be auseful invention.

In particular, specific frequencies of light have been shown in avariety of circumstances to have particular health benefits. A devicewhich provides phototherapy with specific and selected wavelengths oflight would be a useful invention.

While phototherapy products are known in the art, generally allcurrently used technologies have one or more of the followingdeficiencies:

-   -   1. They use illumination by conventional direct irradiation        which can irritate the skin and which requires large sources of        illumination to effective irradiate the entire area to be        treated.    -   2. They use a non-transparent material (such as non-woven        fabrics) is as part of the distribution system and the skin is        so close to the mask that it is easily irritated and/or the        light source is of the proper intensity only in certain areas.    -   3. If a mask is incorporated, the mask itself is unwieldy. It is        difficult to carry out other activities while wearing such a        mask. Illuminance is strong near the light source and may cause        detriment to the skin. On the other hand, areas lacking the        light source are completely useless.    -   4. The illuminated surface (i.e. the area(s) of skin to be        irradiated) has to be fixed in place, so the user cannot move        freely.

A phototherapy device which did not suffer from these deficiencies wouldbe a useful invention.

The present invention addresses these concerns.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Among the many objectives of the present invention is the provision of adevice which applies phototherapy to the face.

Another objective of the present invention is the provision of a devicewhich applies phototherapy to the face in a convenient and portablefashion.

Another objective of the present invention is the provision of a devicewhich applies phototherapy to the face using fewer light emitters andless power than previous devices.

Yet another objective of the present invention is the provision of adevice which applies phototherapy to the face and allows a variety ofuser-controlled inputs for applying the phototherapy.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 depicts a perspective view of the preferred embodiment of theinvention.

FIG. 2 depicts a perspective view of the preferred embodiment of theinvention.

FIG. 3 depicts an exploded perspective view of the major elements of thepreferred embodiment.

FIG. 4 depicts a frontal view of the major elements of the preferredembodiment.

FIG. 5 depicts a frontal view of the facial mask element of thepreferred embodiment.

FIG. 6 depicts a perspective view of an alternate embodiment of theinvention.

FIG. 7 depicts a perspective view of an alternate embodiment of theinvention.

FIG. 8 depicts a perspective view of an alternate embodiment of theinvention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Reference will now be made in detail to several embodiments of theinvention that are illustrated in accompanying drawings. Wheneverpossible, the same or similar reference numerals are used in thedrawings and the description to refer to the same or like parts orsteps. The drawings are in simplified form and are not to precise scale.For purposes of convenience and clarity only, directional terms such astop, bottom, left, right, up, down, over, above, below, beneath, rear,and front, may be used with respect to the drawings. These and similardirectional terms are not to be construed to limit the scope of theinvention in any manner. The words attach, connect, couple, and similarterms with their inflectional morphemes do not necessarily denote director intermediate connections, but may also include connections throughmediate elements or devices.

The general components, and the purposes thereof, of the invention willnow be described.

LED light has multiple wavelengths, among which the red light (630 nm)provides a wide variety of therapeutic effects because the mitochondriainside human tissues can absorb the resonance and introduce the absorbedphotons into the body. It is also pointed out in literature thatirradiation by low-energy single-wavelength red light can stimulate andpromote the proliferation of fibroblasts and the synthesis of collagen.

Blue light (470 nm) can suppress acne by irradiating and eliminatingpropionibacterium acnes, which are the main reason for inflammatoryinfections. This is because during metabolism, propionibacterium acnescan create porphyrin, a substance that absorbs and binds with blue lightof a certain wavelength and thus causes the bacteria to die.

Yellow light (590 nm) is a warm-colored, high-purity light which matchesthe light absorption peak of the blood vessels and thus stimulates boththe lymphatic system and the nervous system.

A phototherapy device may include LED of all three types, which may beselectively activated or de-activated as the device is used, to allowselection of the most applicable type of phototherapy while conservingpower and/or minimizing possible irritation by not activating LED whoseemissions are not desired at the time of any particular application ofphototherapy. It is required to include LED which can emit at least oneof the group red, yellow or blue monochromatic lights at a wavelengthreasonably known to provide phototherapeutic effect.

Phototherapy, per se, is known in the art. E.G. Chinese PatentApplication Number 200580039038 “Hair Germinator”, which presents a hairgerminator that irradiates facial or head skin with visible light fromwhich infrared and ultraviolet wavelengths are removed. Morespecifically, by using red, blue, and green light emitting diodes (LED)and controlling the supply current, the device can emit red, yellow,green, cyan, blue, and purple monochromatic lights or theircombinations—in other words visible lights with wavelengths ranging from400 to 700 nm.

Chinese Patent Application Number 201110230056.2 “LED Facial MaskDevice” presents an LED facial mask device which consists of a facialmask body. LEDs are distributed on the facial mask body. The capsulationend of the LEDs is located on the inner surface of the facial mask bodywhich fits the face. The LEDs are connected to each other with electricconductor wires. The low-level light pulses from the LEDs on the body ofthis LED facial mask impact the facial skin and directly act onmitochondria, thus enhancing the potential energy of the skin cells.

Chinese Patent Application Number 201210392410.6 “Variable-ShapeMulti-beam Cosmetological Facial Makeup” presents a variable-shapemulti-beam cosmetological facial makeup which consists of a facialmakeup body. The outer surface of the facial makeup body is removablyfitted to a facial makeup model. The inner surface of the facial makeupbody is provided with an LED light source module. The LED light sourcemodule is composed of several LEDs of different colors which arealternately laid out. The LED light source module is electricallyconnected by a power cord to a controller which is used to control thelight emission of the LED light source module.

Chinese Patent Application Number 201320324090.0 “LED Facial Mask”presents an LED facial mask which consists of a housing body. Thehousing body consists of a hard housing and a transparent hood which arefitted to each other. The clearance between the hard housing and thetransparent hood contains a light emitting module, which consists of aprinted circuit board and several LED lights located on the side of theprinted circuit board which faces the transparent hood. A tying strap isprovided at the left and right ends of the hard housing.

Having concluded the explanation of the components of the invention andthe purposes thereof, and reviewed prior art, the preferred embodiment,and multiple alternate embodiments, will now be described.

By referring to FIG. 1, the basic structure of a device embodying theinvention may be easily understood. Device 12 consists of headpiece 2and light guide 1 which is braced and operably captured between theheadpiece 2 and retainer 7. Headpiece 2 and curved holder 7 are operablyattached to each other with buckles or by any other reasonable means.Nosepiece 3 is fixed in the middle of retainer 7. On light guide 1,there is a laser dot-dash line 10 that penetrates light guide 1.

Charge port 6 is provided at one end of headpiece 2. Emitter 5,comprising a flexible printed circuit LED light bar, is installed insideheadpiece 2. Headpiece 2 and/or retainer 7 can also contain a battery(not shown) which can be charged by means of attaching power source 4 tocharge port 6. Emitter 5 is connected to the battery, and the battery tocharge port 6, through wires, ribbon cables, and/or FPC connectors, orby any other reasonable means. If no battery is present, power source 4must be connected to charge port 6 while the device is in operation.

Light guide 1 can be oval, circular, or rectangular. As shown in FIG. 5,light inputs 52, comprising two parallel rectangular holes, are openedin the middle of light guide 1. When emitter 5 is energized by thebattery (not shown) and/or power source 4, light from emitter 5 passesthrough the light inputs 52 into the upper and lower parts of lightguide 1, respectively. Light channels 51, comprising three opticallyopen holes, are opened respectively on both ends and in the middle oflight guides 52. Light inputs 52 are so designed as to focus light ontothe light guide 1 as much as possible and thus to increase the overallbrightness of the LED facial mask. It is strongly preferred that thedensity of dots in the dot-dash line 10 decrease from the center to bothends of the line.

It is preferred that charge port 6 be a mini-USB or micro-USB chargeport, as this will allow the use of standard power adapters and fordevice 12 to be energized by, and interface with, any appropriate devicewith a USB port.

The invention will function with emitter 5 in any reasonable operableconfiguration with regard to light guide 1, including at the top (seeFIG. 7), the bottom, the side, or with multiple emitters in anyreasonable location(s.)

To use the device 12, a user (not shown) dons the device by settlingnosepiece 3 on their nose while headpiece 2 wraps around the upper partof the head. If a battery is present, the user energizes emitter 5 by aswitch (not shown) or any other reasonable control means, including awired or wireless connection to a personal computer, tablet, smartphone,or other reasonable device. If a battery is not present, the userenergizes emitter 5 by connecting power source 4. Emitter 5 emits lightin the wavelength(s) desired, which is transmitted into light guide 1and refracted by dot-dash line 10 toward the user's skin, administeringthe desired phototherapy.

If emitter 5 comprises more than one type of LED which can emit morethan one wavelength of light, it is strongly preferred that there besome way to control which wavelengths (including multiple wavelengths)are emitted as the user selects the appropriate phototherapy. This couldbe via a switch or button, via wired or wireless connection to apersonal computer, tablet, smartphone or other appropriate device, orany other reasonable means.

FIG. 2 shows the device with emitter 5, herein comprising a series ofLED modules, visible through retainer 7.

FIG. 3 shows the components of the device separately to better disclosethe configuration of the preferred embodiment. Headpiece 2 is on theoutside, with light guide 1 between it and emitter 5, which will becaptured along with light guide 1 when retainer 7 is pressed into place.Nosepiece 3 will then be affixed to retainer 7 and the device will beready for use.

FIG. 4 shows the device assembled and ready for use from the perspectiveof someone facing the user (not shown.)

FIG. 5 shows light guide 1 from the perspective of someone facing theuser (not shown.) Light inputs 52 and light channels 51 are visible andthe path the light from emitter 5 can then take into light guide 1 isapparent.

In FIG. 6, an improvement to the preferred embodiment comprising a strap60 is added to the rear end of the curved support of Embodiment 1 inorder to make it more comfortable to wear the device.

In FIG. 7, an alternate embodiment is shown where light guide 1 islowered and a cap 70 is added to the top of headpiece 3 in order to makeit more comfortable to wear the device and to accommodate differentscenarios of use.

In FIG. 8, an alternate embodiment is shown where light guide 1 has beenintegrated into a helmet 80, with light guide 1 in front of the helmet.The exterior of light guide 1 may be made opaque or reflective tofurther increase the amount of photoradiation which is directed to theface of the user.

Light guide 1 is made of a translucent or transparent material whichtends to transmit the light from emitter 5 to dot-dash line 10efficiently. Light guide 1 is made of a material which will not causeany irritation or other negative effect in the majority of human beingswhen in proximity to or contact with the body. It is optional, but notpreferred, to make those portions of the exterior of light guide 1 whichare not part of dot-dash line 10 frosted, opaque, or reflective so as todirect the maximum amount of light to be emitted by dot-dash line 10. Itis optional, but not preferred, to minimize or eliminate the dot-dashline in the area of light guide 1 opposite the user's eyes, as thisreduces the amount of light directed directly into the eyes and allowsthe user to retain a higher level of vision.

Dot-dash line 10 can be created in light guide 10 laser or diamondcarving, screen printing, or injection molding. The actual configurationof dot-dash line 10 can include dotted lines, dashed lines, dot-dashlines, or discrete dot-dash lines. It is preferred, but not required, tokeep the size of the dots in dot-dash line 10 relatively small to keepthe emission of photoradiation uniform. It is optional, but notpreferred, to make the dots in dot-dash line 10 more complex shapes thandots or dashes, such as geometric shapes or even letters, numbers, orsymbols of any reasonable sort.

It is preferred, but not required, to use injection-molding to formdot-dash line 10. This is done by directly making a mold of the desiredshape and then molding the film by injecting raw material. The lines anddots on the light guide are injection-molded as well, so they can bedirectly used without having to go through further processing. Thisprocessing method saves the effort and materials for further processingof light guide 1. The body of light guide 1 may also be thicker ifinjection-molded without requiring hot-bending. This approach eliminatesmultiple manufacturing steps and makes the device more economical toproduce. Light guide 1 may be oval, circular, square or irregular inshape. The thickness may range between 0.01 to 20 mm. It is requiredthat light guide 1 be no thicker than 20 mm as after that manufacturingmethods become more expensive and device 12 becomes too heavy andcumbersome to wear for any length of time.

An optional improvement to the preferred embodiment is a timing switch(not shown) installed on the device. This switch may be set up as neededto achieve timed phototherapy. A timed function may also be enabled ifthe device is connected by wire or wirelessly to a personal computer,tablet, smartphone or other appropriate device which can control emitter5.

It is strongly preferred that emitter 5 be configured such that eitherits light emitting elements project the majority of their output alongthe plane of light guide 1, or that a prism or reflector be used todirect a majority of their output along the plane of light guide 1. Dueto the nature of most common transparent films or plastics, some of thelight from emitter 5 which enters light guide 1 will be conducted todot-dash line 10 in almost any configuration, the configuration(s)described in this paragraph will produce the best results.

While various embodiments and aspects of the present invention have beendescribed above, it should be understood that they have been presentedby way of example only, and not limitation. Thus, the breadth and scopeof the present invention should not be limited by any of the aboveexemplary embodiments.

This application—taken as a whole with the abstract, specification, anddrawings being combined—provides sufficient information for a personhaving ordinary skill in the art to practice the invention as disclosedherein. Any measures necessary to practice this invention are wellwithin the skill of a person having ordinary skill in this art afterthat person has made a careful study of this disclosure.

Because of this disclosure and solely because of this disclosure, usefulmodifications of this device will become clear to a person havingordinary skill in this particular art. Such modifications are clearlycovered by this disclosure.

What is claimed and sought to be protected by Letters Patent is: 1.(canceled)
 2. (canceled)
 3. (canceled)
 4. (canceled)
 5. (canceled) 6.(canceled)
 7. An LED facial mask comprising: a) A headpiece designed togo around the head of a user, the user comprising a human being having aface, the face having a nose; b) A nosepiece, operably affixed to theheadpiece, which rests on the nose of the user; c) An emitter whichemits a visible light radiation, the emitter comprising a plurality oflight-emitting diodes, the emitter operably affixed to the headpiece;and, d) A light guide, the light guide operably affixed to the headpiecein such a way that the visible light radiation emitted by the emitterwill enter the light guide, be transmitted through the body of the lightguide, and be emitted from the light guide onto the face of the user. 8.An LED facial mask as in claim 7, further comprising a dot-dash line,the dot-dash line comprising at least two dots, each dot comprising apartially or fully penetrating void in the light guide and the dot-dashline causing a portion of the visible light radiation emitted by theemitter to be emitted from the light guide through the at least two dotsand onto the face of the user.
 9. An LED facial mask as in claim 8,wherein the dot-dash line has a density of dots, the density of dotsincreasing when the dots are closer together and/or the dots are largerand the density of dots decreasing when the dots are further apart orsmaller, and wherein the density of the dots in the dot-dash linedecreases as the dot-dash line gets further away from the emitter. 10.An LED facial mask as in claim 7, wherein the light emitting diodes emita plurality of monochromatic radiations, the plurality of monochromaticradiations including one or more of a red light, a yellow light, and ablue light, the plurality of monochromatic radiations having a range ofwavelengths, the range of wavelengths ranging from 470 nm to 630 nm. 11.An LED facial mask as in claim 8, wherein the light emitting diodes emita plurality of monochromatic radiations, the plurality of monochromaticradiations including one or more of a red light, a yellow light, and ablue light, the plurality of monochromatic radiations having a range ofwavelengths, the range of wavelengths ranging from 470 nm to 630 nm. 12.An LED facial mask as in claim 9, wherein the light emitting diodes emita plurality of monochromatic radiations, the plurality of monochromaticradiations including one or more of a red light, a yellow light, and ablue light, the plurality of monochromatic radiations having a range ofwavelengths, the range of wavelengths ranging from 470 nm to 630 nm. 13.An LED facial mask as in claim 7, wherein the light emitting diodes emita monochromatic radiation, the monochromatic radiation having a range ofwavelengths, the range of wavelengths ranging from 633 nm to 660 nm. 14.An LED facial mask as in claim 8, wherein the light emitting diodes emita monochromatic radiation, the monochromatic radiation having a range ofwavelengths, the range of wavelengths ranging from 633 nm to 660 nm. 15.An LED facial mask as in claim 9, wherein the light emitting diodes emita monochromatic radiation, the monochromatic radiation having a range ofwavelengths, the range of wavelengths ranging from 633 nm to 660 nm. 16.An LED facial mask as in claim 7, wherein the headpiece is attached to ahat, the hat being worn by the user.
 17. An LED facial mask as in claim7, wherein the headpiece is attached to a hat, the hat being worn by theuser and there is no nosepiece.
 18. An LED facial mask as in claim 8,wherein the headpiece is attached to a hat, the hat being worn by theuser.
 19. An LED facial mask as in claim 8, wherein the headpiece isattached to a hat, the hat being worn by the user and there is nonosepiece.
 20. An LED facial mask as in claim 9, wherein the headpieceis attached to a hat, the hat being worn by the user.
 21. An LED facialmask as in claim 9, wherein the headpiece is attached to a hat, the hatbeing worn by the user and there is no nosepiece.
 22. An LED facial maskas in claim 7, wherein the headpiece is attached to a helmet, the helmetbeing worn by the user.
 23. An LED facial mask as in claim 7, whereinthe headpiece is attached to a helmet, the helmet being worn by the userand there is no nosepiece.
 24. An LED facial mask as in claim 8, whereinthe headpiece is attached to a helmet, the helmet being worn by theuser.
 25. An LED facial mask as in claim 8, wherein the headpiece isattached to a helmet, the helmet being worn by the user and there is nonosepiece.
 26. An LED facial mask as in claim 9, wherein the headpieceis attached to a helmet, the helmet being worn by the user.
 27. An LEDfacial mask as in claim 9, wherein the headpiece is attached to ahelmet, the helmet being worn by the user and there is no nosepiece. 28.An LED facial mask as in claim 7, further comprising a timing switch,the timing switch being activated by the user and causing the emitter toemit the visible light radiation for a limited period of time.
 29. AnLED facial mask as in claim 8, further comprising a timing switch, thetiming switch being activated by the user and causing the emitter toemit the visible light radiation for a limited period of time.
 30. AnLED facial mask as in claim 9, further comprising a timing switch, thetiming switch being activated by the user and causing the emitter toemit the visible light radiation for a limited period of time.
 31. AnLED facial mask as in claim 7, wherein the emitter is controlled by anexternal device, the external device electronically communicating withthe emitter and running a control program which can be controlled by theuser.